Upset win to Everton in Charity Shield

Press, 20 August 1984, Page 26

Upset win to Everton in Charity Shield

NZPA-Reuter London A bizarre own goal by the goal-keeper, Bruce Grobbelaar, gave Everton an unexpected but thoroughly deserved 1-0 win over the European soccer champion, Liverpool, in the Charity Shield at Wembley on Saturday. Grobbelaar, well known for his eccentricities, was the victim of a vicious ricochet in the fifty-sixth minute of a generally disappointing display by both teams in the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season. Liverpool badly missed its' departed mid-field general, Graeme Souness, who is now in Italy with Sampdoria. It struggled against a lively and hard-working Everton side and brought on the striker, Paul Walsh, its close season signing from Luton, as a substitute in the fifty-fifth minute. His presence was immediately effective in the wrong way as Everton broke out from defence and Kevin Ratcliffe set Graeme Sharp free in the Liverpool penalty area. Grobbelaar parried Sharp’s z first shot but his second effort

deflected off Mark Lawrenson and then struck the goalkeeper’s outstretched boot before rolling in. Walsh, joining lan Rush in attack, could do little to prevent Everton taking command. Liverpool was left to rue missing the best chance of the match in the first half when Kenny Dalglish shot over with only the goal-keeper, Neville Southall, to beat. Everton was quickly into its stride in the first half and Kevin Richardson exposed the lack of pace of the Liverpool captain, Phil Neal, several times. On this evidence Everton can look forward with optimism to a continuation of its strong finish last season. But Liverpool, which also lost this traditional match between the league champion and the F.A. Cup winner last season, needs to solve its midfield problem, where John Wark is no complete replacement for Souness. The Scottish soccer champion, Aberdeen,, continued its impressive start to the new season with a competent 2-0 away win over St Mirren.

The newly promoted Morton is the only other side with full points from two matches. It won, 2-1, against Hearts at Edinburgh. Glasgow Celtic, however, still awaits its first win, after being held to a draw for the second successive Saturday. ENGLISH F.A. CHARITY SHIELD Everton 1, Liverpool 0. SCOTTISH LEAGUE Premier division.— Celtic 1, Dundee United 1; Dumbarton 1, Rangers 2; Dundee 0, Hibernian 1; Hearts 1, Morton 2; St Mirren 0, Aberdeen 2. Division one.— Airdrieonians 1, Clydebank 0; Brechin 0, Fo,rfar 2; Falkirk 3, Meadowbank 3;. Hamilton 2, Motherwell 0; Kilmarnock 0, Ayr 0; Partick 1, Clyde 1; St Johnston 3, East Fife 4. Division two.— Arbroath 0, Montrose 3; Cowdenbeath 1, Berwick 0; Queens Park 4, East Stirling 1; Raith 1, Dunfermline 3; Stenhousemuir 1, Albion 1; Stirling 0, Alloa 1; Stranraer 1, Queen of the South 0.